Tape let-off locating and tensioning device



Feb. 25, 1958 w. v. BOWMAN TAPE LET-OFF LOCATING AND TENSIONING DEVICE Filed June 28, 1954 WADE V. BOWM INVENT OR ATTORNEYS Unite TAPE LET-OFF LOCATING AND TENSIONING DEVICE This invention relates to improvements in tape let-ofi apparatus such as may be used with a machine for applying transfer marks to hosiery, fabric and the like of the character disclosed in my co-pending application Serial Number 346,752, filed April 3, 1953 and entitled Transfer Applying Apparatus and Counting Mechanism therefor, now abandoned, of which the present application is a continuation-in-part.

In said co-pending application, means are shown for directing transfer strips to a transfer applying mechanism. The means for directing the transfer strips to the transfer applying mechanism comprises a magazine having a plurality of disk type reels thereon, each provided with a plurality of circularly spaced spindles and each spindle is adapted to loosely receive a roll or spool of transfer strip material or tape. Means are also provided to facilitate adjustably rotating each of the reels and to position any desired spool thereon in operating position.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide an improved tape tensioning device adjacent each of the spindles on each reel of a magazine of the character last described. Each of said tensioning devices comprises a tension arm resiliently urged against the periphery of a roll or spool of tape on the corresponding spindle and wherein the tension arm has guide means thereon adapted to straddle the tape on the corresponding spool for maintaining the spool of tape in predetermined position axially of the spindle.

The tension arm is mounted in a unique manner to facilitate quick and easy adjustment thereof parallel to the axis of said spindle for correspondingly adjusting the tape roll or spool.

It is another object of this invention to provide a ten v sioning device of the character described with means for adjusting the pressure at which the tensioning arm thereof engages the periphery of the spool of tape, to provide means facilitating adjustment of the guide means on the tensioning arm to accommodate tapes of varying width and to provide means supporting said tensioning arm in such a manner that the tensioning arm may be manually swung clear of the tape to facilitate removal and replacement of spools or rolls of tape on said spindles.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation showing the magazine with the improved tape tensioning devices thereon and showing a portion of a decal or transfer applying apparatus in association therewith;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the lower left-hand portion of one of the reels shown in Figure 1 and showing the improved tensioning device in operative position in solid lines and showing in broken lines, how the tensioning device may be swung outwardly to facilitate replacement of a spool or roll on the ad-;

jacent spindle;

Sats Paten .-..i

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation looking along line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, on a reduced scale, taken along 44 in Figure 3.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numerals 10 and 10 indicate suitable tape take-up devices or tape feeding devices to which respective tapes T and T are directed from respective rotatably adjustable reels or supports 11 and 11' of a magazine broadly designated at 12. The reels 11 and 11' are in the form of disks which are suitably supported in ofi-center relationship for rotative adjustment on a standard 13.

The structure heretofore described is substantially as disclosed in my co-pending application Serial Number 346,752 and, since the present invention is concerned with an improved tensioning device for the tape extending 'rom each of a plurality of spools of tape or rolls of tape on each of the disks or reels 11 and 11, a further detailed description of the magazine 12 and the takeup devices It) and In is deemed unnecessary.

Each of the reels or disks 11 and 11' has a plurality of circularly spaced spindles, or spool or tape roll supports, extending outwardly therefrom in parallel relation to the axis of the corresponding disk or reel, the spindles associated with reel 11 being indicated at 20 and the spindles associated with reel 11 eing indicated at 20'. Tape rolls or spools 21 and 21 are loosely mounted on the respective spindles 2t) and 2!), the tape T being withdrawn from each of the spools 0r rolls 21,. one at a time, as they are selectively positioned adjacent the takeup device 10 and the tape T being drawn from each of the tape rolls or spools 21, one at a time, as they are selectively positioned adjacent the corresponding takeup device 10.

It should be noted that the spools 21 and 21 are of substantially less axial length than the respective spindles 2t and 29.

Since the improved tensioning devices adjacent all of the spools 21 and 21 and the respective spindles 20 and 25) are identical, only one of the improved tensioning devices associated with reel or disk 11 will be described and the parts of the remaining tensioning devices associated with both reels 11 and 11' will bear the same reference characters with the prime notation added.

The medial portion of lever 25 has a sleeve 27 suitably secured thereto, as by welding, which sleeve is loosely penetrated by the secondary pivot shaft 26, said secondary I pivot shaft 26 extending in substantially parallel relation till to the axis of the adjacent spindle 2d and being substantially longer than the sleeve 27 or the width of the lever One end portion of the tensioning arm 25 is normally urged into engagement with the periphery of the tape roll or spool 21 and the free end of said last-named portion of the tensioning arm 25 is preferably curved outwardly, as at 3%, so as to provide a smoothly rounded surface past which the tape T moves as it is withdrawn from the spool 21 in a direction substantially radially of the axis of the spool 21.

As heretofore stated, the spool 21 is loosely mounted on the spindle 2th and, in order to maintain the tape T in proper alinement with the corresponding take-up device 10, a pair of adjustable tape roll guides 31 and 32 are adjustably secured to the outer surface of the tensioning arm 25 adjacent the portion thereof which engages the periphery of the roll 21. These guides 31 and 32 loosely straddle the adjacent portion of the tape roll 21. As best shown in Figure 3, each of the tape roll guides 31 and 32 is of substantially L-shaped configuration forming juxtaposed leg portion 33 on each of the tape roll guides 31 and 32.

The leg portions 33 are provided with coinciding adjustment slots 34 therein which are penetrated by a screw 35 suitably secured to the tensioning arm 25 and having a nut 36 thereon.

It will be observed in Figure 3 that opposite ends of the secondary pivot shaft 26 are suitably secured to the free ends of links or arms 40 and 41 which extend inwardly and are pivotally mounted on a primary pivot shaft 42, one end of which is suitably secured to, or fixed in, the disk or reel 11 and which is disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation to the corresponding spindle 23. Corresponding ends of torsion springs 43 and 44 are connected to or bear against the outer surfaces of the links 40 and 41.

The torsion springs 43 and 44 surround the primary pivot shaft 42 and the other ends thereof are connected to respective collars 45 and 46 adjustably mounted on the primary pivot shaft 42, as by set screws 47.

Disposed between the collars 45 and 46, and mounted on shaft 42 is a tubular member or sleeve 50 which is preferably made from a resilient or friction material, such as rubber, felt, leather or the like. It is preferable, but not necessary, that opposite ends of the tubular member or resilient sleeve 50 engage the proximal surfaces of the collars 45 and 46 in order to restrain the tubular member or sleeve 50 from endwise movement on the primary pivot shaft 42.

The end of the tensioning arm 25 remote from that end portion thereof which engages the periphery of the tape roll 21 is preferably of relatively less width than the major portion of the arm 25 and has a resilient bumper, abutment or friction member 51 fixed thereon which bears against the periphery of the tubular member 50. This bumper 51 may be secured on the corresponding end of the tensioning lever or arm 25 by stretching the resilient bumper 51 as it is positioned thereon or by suitable adhesive.

It is thus seen that the springs 43 and 44 urge the free ends of the arms or links 40 and 41 toward the adjacent tape roll 21 and, in so doing, urge the lower end of the tensioning arm 25 in Figures 2, 3 and 4 against the periphery of the tape roll 21, the lower end of the tape tensioning arm 25 being restricted from moving outwardly relative to the tape roll 21 by an engagement of the resilient bumper 51 thereon with the resilient tubular member 50.

Also, the arm 25 may be shifted longitudinally of the secondary pivot shaft 26 and the spool 21 may be shifted therewith to insure that the tape T withdrawn therefrom is properly alined with the corresponding take-up device 10. The pressure of the resilient bumper 51 against the resilient sleeve 59 prevents endwise movement of the arm 25, once the bumper has been adjusted to the desired position, parallel to the spindle 20 and the secondary pivot shaft 26. When the tape T has been exhausted from the tape spool 21, it is merely necessary to swing the tape tensioning device outwardly about the primary pivot shaft 42 to substantially the broken line position shown in Figure 2 so the tape guide members 31 and 32 are clear of the tape roll being removed and the new tape roll being mounted on the corresponding spindle 20.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. An improved tensioning device for a machine of the character having a magazine from which at least one spindle extends and on which a tape roll is adapted to be mounted and also having means for drawing the tape off the tape roll; said tensioning device comprising a tape tension arm, means on the machine supporting the medial portion of said tape tensioning arm for pivotal movement intermediate the ends thereof, spring means normally urging one end portion of said tape tensioning arm into engagement with the periphery of said tape roll, and guide means adjustably mounted on the tape tensioning arm and extending inwardly therefrom astride the tape roll, maintaining the tape roll under tension and to prevent axial movement of the tape roll on said spindle.

2. Apparatus for tensioning and guiding tape withdrawn from a spool loosely mounted on an elongated spindle comprising a tensioning arm of less width than the spool, means resiliently urging said arm against the periphery of the spool, a pair of guides carried by the said arm and having portions thereon adapted to straddle said spool, and means for adjusting said guides to vary the distance between the last-named portions to accommodate spools of varying width.

3. Apparatus for tensioning and guiding tape withdrawn from a spool loosely mounted on an elongated spindle comprising a tensioning arm of less width than the spool, means resiliently urging said arm against the periphery of the spool, a pair of guides carried by the said arm and having portions thereon adapted to straddle said spool, means for adjusting said guides to vary the distance between the last-named portions to accommodate spools of varying width, and means for adjusting said arm substantially parallel to the axis of said spindle.

4. Apparatus for tensioning and guiding tape withdrawn from a spool loosely mounted on an elongated spindle comprising a tensioning arm of less width than the spool, means pivotally supporting the medial portion of said arm, means resiliently urging said last-named means toward the spool to urge said arm against the periphery of the spool, an elongated friction member engageable by a portion of said arm remote from the spool, a pair of guides carried by the said arm and having portions thereon adapted to straddle said spool, and means for adjusting said guides to vary the distance between the last-named portions to accommodate spools of varying width.

5. Apparatus for tensioning and guiding tape withdrawn from a roll and wherein said roll is loosely mounted on an elongated member; said apparatus comprising a support, a primary shaft on said support extending substantially parallel to and spaced from said member, at least one link pivotally connected to said primary shaft, a secondary shaft fixed to said link and extending in spaced substantially parallel relation to said primary shaft, a relatively narrow lever pivoted intermediate its ends on the secondary shaft, one end of the lever being adapted to engage the periphery of said roll, the other end of said lever being engageable with said primary shaft, guide means carried by said lever and adapted to straddle at least a portion of said roll, and spring means resiliently urging the link substantially toward said roll.

6. Apparatus for tensioning and guiding tape withdrawn from a roll and wherein said roll is loosely mounted on an elongated member; said apparatus comprising a support, a primary shaft on said support extending substantially parallel to and spaced from said member, at least one link pivotally connected to said primary shaft, a secondary shaft fixed to said link and extending in spaced substantially parallel relation to said primary shaft, a relatively narrow lever pivoted intermediate its ends on the secondary shaft, one end of the lever being adapted to engage the periphery of said roll, a friction abutment on said lever remote from said roll, a friction member extending longitudinally of said primary shaft and being engageable by said friction abutment, guide means carried by said lever and adapted to straddle at least a portion of said roll, and spring means resiliently urging the link substantially toward said roll.

7. In a machine having a support, at least one spindle disposed on a substantially horizontal axis extending from said support and on which a tape roll of less axial length than said spindle is adapted to be loosely mounted, and means for withdrawing tape from said tape roll; the combination of a tape tensioning device comprising a first pivot shaft fixed to said support and extending in spaced substantially parallel relation to said spindle, a pair of links having corresponding ends journaled on said first pivot shaft, a second pivot shaft connected to and spanning the distance between the other ends of said links, a tape tensioning lever loosely mounted intermediate its ends on said second shaft, a resilient sleeve mounted on said first pivot shaft, means on one end of said tape tensioning lever adapted to engage said resilient sleeve, means on the other end of said tape tensioning lever engaging the periphery of the tape roll, a pair of spaced guide members extending inwardly from said tape tensioning lever and straddling the adjacent portion of said tape roll, and spring means urging the links substantially toward the tape roll.

8. In a machine having a support, at least one spindle disposed on a substantially horizontal axis extending from said support and on which a tape roll of less axial length than said spindle is adapted to be loosely mounted, and means for withdrawing tape from said tape roll; the combination of a tape tensioning device comprising a first pivot shaft fixed to said support and extending in spaced substantially parallel relation to said spindle, a pair of links having corresponding ends journaled on said first pivot shaft, a second pivot shaft connected to and spanning the distance between the other ends of said links, a tape tensioning lever loosely mounted intermediate its ends on said second shaft, a resilient sleeve mounted on said first pivot shaft, means on one end of said tape tensioning lever adapted to engage said resilient sleeve, means on the other end of said tape tensioning lever engaging the periphery of the tape roll, a pair of spaced guide members extending inwardly from said tape tensioning lever and straddling the adjacent portion of said tape roll, spring means urging the links substantially toward the tape roll, and the end of said tape tensioning lever adjacent said spindle being curved outwardly for guiding the tape as it is withdrawn from the tape roll.

9. In a machine having a support, at least one spindle mounted on said support and on which a relatively narrow tape roll is loosely mounted and means for drawing the tape from said tape roll; the combination of a primary pivot shaft carried by said support and spaced fromlsaid spindle and extending in substantially parallel relation thereto, at least two longitudinally spaced links mounted on said primary shaft, a secondary pivot shaft extending between and connected to the free ends of said links, a tensioning lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said secondary pivot shaft and having one end portion thereof terminating adjacent said primary pivot shaft, the opposite end portion of said tensioning lever terminating adjacent the periphery of the tape roll, and resilient means urging said links toward said tape roll to thereby resiliently urge said tensioning lever against the periphery of said tape roll and to also resiliently urge said one end of the tape tensioning lever against the primary pivot shaft to thereby maintain the tape under tension as it is withdrawn from said tape roll and to thereby permit adjustment of said tape tensioning lever parallel to the axis of said tape roll.

10. In a machine having a support, at least one spindle mounted on said support and on which a relatively narrow tape roll is loosely mounted and means for drawing the tape from said tape roll; the combination of a primary pivot shaft carried by said support and spaced from said spindle and extending in substantially parallel relation thereto, at least two longitudinally spaced links mounted on said primary shaft, a secondary pivot shaft extending between and connected to the free ends of said links, a tensioning lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said secondary pivot shaft and having one end portion thereof terminating adjacent said primary pivot shaft, the opposite end portion of said tensioning lever terminating adjacent the periphery of the tape roll, resilient means urging said links toward said tape roll to thereby resiliently urge said tensioning lever against the periphery of said tape roll and to also resiliently urge said one end of the tape tensioning lever against the primary pivot shaft to thereby maintain the tape under tension as it is withdrawn from said tape roll and to thereby permit adjustment of said tape tensioning lever parallel to the axis of said tape roll, and a pair of spaced tape guiding members carried by said tape tensioning lever and being adapted to straddle that portion of the tape roll which is engaged by the tape tensioning lever.

11. An improved tension device for a reel having a. spindle thereon for receiving a spool of sheet material comprising a shaft fixed on said reel in parallel relation to said spindle, a pair of links pivotally mounted on said shaft, a tension arm pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said links and frictionally engageable adjacent one of its ends with the roll of sheet material, resilient means urging said links and said last-named portion of said arm into engagement with said roll of sheet material, friction means on said shaft, and the other end of said arm frictionally engaging said friction means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 424,493 Morris Apr. 1, 1890 2,387,644 Coffey Oct. 23, 1945 2,416,585 Holub Feb. 25, 1947 2,433,787 Sager Dec. 30, 1947 2,596,428 OMalley Mar. 13, 1952 

